Apple Announced its Response to COVID-19

Tim Cook announced Apple’s COVID-19 response to “the worldwide Apple family.” The purpose of the announcement was to provide an update about the ways Apple is doing its part “to protect the vulnerable, to study this virus, and to care for the sick.”

Apple’s committed donations to the global COVID-19 response – both to help treat those who are sick and to help lessen the economic and community impacts of the pandemic – today reached $15 million worldwide.

We’re also announcing that we are matching our employee donations two-to-one to support COVID-19 response efforts locally, nationally and internationally.

Apple has reopened all of its stores in Greater China. Tim Cook stated, “What we’ve learned together has helped us all develop the best practices that are assisting enormously in our global response.” One of those lessons is the most effective way to minimize risk of COVID-19’s transmission – which is to reduce density and maximize social distance.

Apple will be closing all of its retail stores outside Greater China until March 27.

In all of their offices, Apple is moving to flexible work arrangements worldwide outside of Greater China. Previously, Apple offered employees at several global offices to “please feel free to work remotely if your job allows”. Now, Apple is asking those whose work requires them to be on site to follow guidance to maximize interpersonal space.

Extensive, deep cleaning will continue at all sites, in all offices. Apple is rolling out new health screenings and temperature checks. Hourly workers will continue to receive pay in alignment with business as usual operations.

And finally, Apple made the decision to make WWDC20, which will take place in June, into “a completely new online experience to millions of talented and creative developers around the world.” I’ve noticed that many big conferences are either canceling their events, postponing them until later in the year, or turning their in-person events into online ones.